A family of five had no idea their wooden Canterbury house was well ablaze until a passing friend ran in to alert them.

Young cancer fighter Jayden Halliwell this morning pushed the button which set off a series of explosions and turned the earthquake-damaged 14-storey building to dust and rubble.

Christchurch's earthquake-damaged Radio Network House was demolished in spectacular style.

Christchurch was rattled by a magnitude 4.0 earthquake this morning.

Two months ago, Earthquake Minister Gerry Brownlee invited a number of us journalists who sometimes write about Christchurch to come and see what was happening.